Download Solar Energy Interaction

Solar Energy Interaction
Science 10
Land vs Water
• When light is
absorbed by the land,
it warms only the top
layer
• This energy is quickly
transferred to the air
above the land
• When light is
absorbed by the
water, it is transferred
throughout the entire
body of water
• This energy takes a
long time to be
transferred to the air
above
Heating the Atmosphere
Heating the Atmosphere
• Radiation travels from the Sun, through
the atmosphere and strikes the Earth
• This radiation warms the land or water
(conduction)
• As the air above the land or water warms,
it will begin to rise (convection) leading to
air currents
• Also, warm water will begin to move
leading to water currents
Sea Breeze
• During the day, the air over the land is
warmer than the air over the water
• The warm air over the land will rise
• The cooler air over the water will rush in to
replace it
• As a result, during the day, the air usually
flows from the water to the land
Sea Breeze
Land Breeze
• At night, the air over the water is warmer
than the air over the land
• The warm air over the water will rise
• The cooler air over the land will rush in to
replace it
• As a result, at night, the air usually flows
from the land to the water
Land Breeze
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere
– All water vapour is present here
– All weather occurs here
– From surface to ~10km
– Temperature ranges from -50°C to 50°C
• Stratosphere
– Ozone is present here
– From 10km-50km
– Temperature ranges -50°C to -30°C
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Mesosphere
–
–
–
–
Meteorites burn up here
Some ions are present here
From 50km to 90km
Temperature ranges from -30°C to -90°C
• Thermosphere
–
–
–
–
Aurora present
Some ions are present here
From 90km to 180km (space)
Temperature ranges from -90°C to over 200°C
Layers of the Atmosphere
Ionosphere
• Light from the sun is powerful enough to
ionize atoms (remove electrons)
• This results in a layer of ions in the upper
atmosphere that reflects radio waves